Attachment-plug for electric circuits.



F. H. CHAPMAN & 0. E. KENNEY. ATTACHMENT PLUG on ELECTRIC CIRCUITS. APPLICATION FILED IEB.24, 1913.

1,080,326, Patented Dec. 2; 19,13.

"entran stares PATENT OFFICE FRANK H. CHAPMAN AND OWEN E. KENNEY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE YOST ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ATTACHMENT'PLUG FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ,1) cc. 2, 1913.

Application filed February 24,1913. Serial No. 750.300.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK II. Ciinruim and Own): E. IQGNNEY, citizens of the United States. and residents of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Attachment-Plug for Electric Circuits; and we do hereby declare the following to be. a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompany ing drawings, and to the-characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to cou 'iling devices for electric circuits and particularly to the plug and socket type of coupling of the quick connecting class, but is not limited to such usepas it may be employed in any connection for which it may be adapted 0* appropriate.

The object of our invention the provision of an improved plug member for couplings of this character, which is simple and inexpensive of mamit'acture, composed of a -mini num of parts, is capable of being easily and quickly connected to circuit wires and also of being quickly coupled to a socket member, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial value thereof.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment: in numerous forms, a preferred emlmdimcnt thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of a portion of the socket mem her and of the plug member embodying the invention with the latter partly inserted into the former, and Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged side and inner end elevations of the plug member.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the socket member of the coupling, which member isof customarv or any suitable con struction, and has the central contact part 1 and the spirally grooved or threaded lining 2 forming the other contact of the socket.

The plug member B of the coupling, in

which the features of our invention reside, (JOIIiPliSQS the body part 3 and the plunger l, both of insulating material, with the latter mounted for axia'l or hingitudinal reciprocatory movements in a socket 5 in one end of the body part 3. A coiled compression spring 6 is interposed between the base of the socket 5 and the inner end of the plunger t and actsoii the plunger to influence an outward movement thereof and to noranally maintain its outer end projeciml a short distance without the open end of the socket 5, such distance of projcctioi'i being limited as hereinafter described. '7

The side wall of the plug socket 5 is provided with a longitudinall vextcnding slot or opening 7, which pre'icrably opcnswithout the outer end of such wall. The outer side of this slot is closed by a suitable electrical conductor, which, in the present instance, is in the form of a sleeve or ferrule 8 that is fitted closely around the socketcd end of the plug body part 3. This sleeve or ferrule 'tori'ns anannular contact surface for engagement with the lining Qof the socket member when inserted therein, as

thereof from :uljacent to its inner end with a recess or channel it) in which a longitudinally extending comluctor strip ll. preterably of spring metal, is mounted, being se cured therein by the clamping action of a bar 12 and screw .13, which latter is thrcad ed into the plunger.- The end portion of the conductor strip 11. which is disposed adjacent to the outer end of the plunger. is bent outwardly to provide a spring linger or brush it, which is adapted to project at its outer end into the slot or opening T in yielding sliding contact with the portion of the ferrule S which closes the outer side of such slot. The finger itnormally engages the inturncd flange 2) at the outer end of the ferrule to limit the outward movements of the plunger at relative to the plug part 3 under the influence of the spring 0. The slet 7 is of sutiicient length to permit the lUO . ward movements of the plunger relative to the plu part also coacts with the side walls ot the slot 4' in the part 2 to guide the reciprocatory movements of the plunger within the part 3.

The plunger 4- is provided at its outer end with a centrally disposed contact part 15 for engagement with the socket contact part 1 when the plug is inserted into the socket member. The lead-in wires for the plug are intended to enter the socket 5 ot the plug part 3 through a central opening 16 in the end thereof opposed to that in which the socket 1' provided, and one wire, in the present instance, is clamped to the bar 12 by a binding-screw 17, while the other wire extends through. the plug and attached to the contact part 15 by binding-screw, or in any other suitable manner.

The means employed, in the present instance, for securing the coupling members A anrl l3 together, when inserted one within the other, comprises a ball or looking part which is mounted in a cage 19 Within.

the soc-her wall of the part 3 and is adapted to be forced outward into locking engagement with a registering groove in the socketlining 2 when the plunger is depressed into the part 3 upon an insertion of the plug into the socket member. The part 18, when in its retracted position, works in a longitudinal. groove or channel 20 in the plunger -l and forced outward by the contact therewith of a hardened thrust part 21., which is set, into the alun 'er at the outer end" of thcgrooveQO in'position to engage the part 18 when the plunger has been depressed a prcr tcrn'iined extent within'the part \Vhile the part'18 may be cammed or forced out in any other" suitable manner it is preferable to provide the plunger with a harlltlltlil thrust part 21 for such purpose.

The ferrule 8 is provided with a small openin in register with the outer end portion of the slot 57 to enable a pin or other pointed instrument to be insertedtherein to effect a depression of the spring finger 1 from step engagement with the ferrule flange 8 to permit an'outward movement of the plunger from within the socket 5 when desired. ltwill be noted that the sleeve or ferrule S is spaced from the metal ball retaining 19, as at 23, to insulate the locking means from the line circuit. 7

It evident that our improved plug is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in constru. and adapted to have the parts a quickly assemblcdyand also materially facilitates the attaching of circuit wires'thereto. It is also evident that the spring finger or brush 14 has a threefold function, namely, to guide the reciprocatory movements of the plunger 4 within the plug part 3, to cooperate with the flange 8 or other suitable stationary part at the outer end portion of the slot 7 to restrictthe outward projecting movements of the plunger 4 relative to the part 3, and to have sliding electrical contact with the ihrrule 8 I whereby the cir uit may pass from such ferrule to the socket lining 2, or vice'versa, when the plug member is inserted into the socket member,

Vi e wish it understood that our invention is not limited to any specific arrangement, construction or form of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isw

l. A plug of the class described having two sections mounted for limited relative longitudinal movements one within the other, means influencing a relative outward movement of sand sect1ons,-a conductor part carried by each section with the conductor part of the outer sect-ion in exposed position on a side thereofinand a spring brush.cen-: ductor member connecting said parts and having sliding contact with one of them when the sections are relatively moved.

2. A plug of the class described having two telcscopin sections mounted for limited relative axial movements, means influencing" a, relative movement of the sections in one direction, conductor part fixedly carried at the outer side of the outer section, aconductor part attached. to the inner section,

and a spring conductor member connected to one of said conductor parts and having permanent sliding contact with the other of said parts when the sections are assembled.

3. A plug of the class described comprising a body section having a hollow extension at one end, a contact member fixedly carried in externally exposed position by said extension and "having an internally exposed part, a plunger mounted for limited reciprocatory movements within said extension, means influencin the plunger relative to the extension, a conductor member carried by the plunger, and

"a yieldablc conductor elementconnected to one of said members and having sliding contact witht-he other.

l. A plug of theclass described comprising a body section of insulating material provided in one end with a longitudinal provided .fiix'cdly socket the wall of which socket is with an opening, a conductor part carried in externally er'posed position. by said'wall and having'a portion exposed to an outward movement of the interior of the socket through said opening, a plunger mounted for limited longitudinal reciprocatory movements in'said socket, aconductor part carried by the plunger, and a spring brush member projecting from one ofsaid conductor parts through said opening and having sliding contact with the other part when the section and plunger are relatively moved.

5. A plug of the class described having a pair of telescoping sections mounted for relative reciprocatory movements, means influencing a relative outward movement of said sections, conductor members respectively carried by said sections, and means coacting" with one of said members to limit the relative outward movements of the sections.

6. A plug of the class described having a pair of relatively movable telescoping members each having a contact part, means influencing a relative outward movement of said members and means on one of said contact parts for coacting with the contact part of the other member to limit the relative outward movements of said members.

7. A plug of the class described having a member provided with a socket having an opening in its wall, a conductor part carriedby said member and having at least a portion thereof exposed to the interior of the socket through said opening, a plunger reciprocally movable in said member socket, and a conductor part carried by said plunger for movements therewith and extending into said opening and being in sliding contact with the conductor part of said member.

' 8. A plug of the class described having a socketed member, a plunger reciprocally movable in said member, a yieldingbrush part carried by said plunger and having sliding electrical contact with said member, and meansgooperating with the brush part to guide and limit the relative movements between said member and plunger.

9. A plug of the class described havinga socketed member, a plunger reciprocally movable in said member, a contact sleeve oncircling'the socket portion of said member and having a portion exposed to the interior thereof, and a conductor part c: rried by the v plunger for movements therewith and having sliding contact with the portion of said' sleeve exposed to the interior oi said member.

10. In a plug of the class described,- a member provided with a socket having a recess in its wall, an external contact part earried by said men iber over said recess. a plunger mounted n mid member. means for influencing an outward movement of said plunger relative to sa d member. and a spring conductor finger carried by said plunger for movement therewith and projecting into said recess in sliding contact with said external contact part and adapted to coael,

with the wallof said recess to limit the outward movements of the plunger relative to said member. I

11. A plug of the class described having telescoping sections mounted for relative longitudinal movements, means influencing a relative outward movement of said sections, andcoacting releasable catch parts on said members one at least forming a part of an electric circuit and opei'ating'tolimit the {)elative outward movements of said memers.

12. A plug of the class described having a socketed body member provided with an opening in its socket wall, a contact part carried by said member and closing the outer side of said opening, a plunger reciprocally movable in the socket of said member, a yielding conductor part carried by saidplunger for movements therewith and having its free end projecting into said opening in sliding contact with said contact part, means carried by said member for coacting with said conductor part to limit the relative outward movements of said member and plunger, said contact part having an opening in register with the socket member opening for the insertion of an instrument to depress said conductor part to release its engagement with said means.

13. In combination, a socket member having base and lining contacts therein, a plug having relatively movable telescoping sections, the outer of said sections having an external contact part for engagement with the lining contact of said socket member, and the inner of said sections having a contact part for engagement with the base con.- tact of said socket member and also a con tact part in yielding sliding engagement with said external contact part, and means carried by the plug and operable by a predetermined relative movement of the sections thereof to engage the lining of the socket member to retain the plug and soeket member. in assembled relation when the former has been inserted, a predetermined extent into the latter.

14. Aplug of the class described having a pair of relatively movable telescoping members, a contact part carried by eil 'ii member, one in sliding eontaet with die other, and means com-ting with one oi said parts to prevent a relative rotation of the members.

l5. Inlcombination, a soeket member having a lining forming an eleetriea] eontaet part. 'a'plug for fitting into said member and having' two telescoping sections mounted for relativelongitudinal movements. a cont ct part rarried by eat-h of said seetions iii sliding eontart one with the other aml the contact part of the outer seetion having eontact with the eontnet part of the socket member when inserted therein, and means separate from said contact parts and operab e by a predetermined relative movement of the plug sections to'engage the socket member lining to retain the plug and socket 5 member in assembled relation when the former has been inserted a; predetermined extent intothe latter.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto FRANK H. CHAPMAN. v

OWEN E. KENNEY.

Witnesses I FRED PARDEI K,' \IDA RIGKET.

Copies of this patent may be 'cbtained for me cents each, by addiessing the flommissioner of Patents,

. Wathington, 1D; 0. 

